Been Where?

Belize (December 15 to 19, 2011)

2012-01-05T21:33:00.000-08:00

Mode of Transportation:
To: Plane
Around: Tour Guide, Boat and Golf Cart

Accommodation:
San Ignacio - Midas Hotel
Caye Caulker - Barefoot Caribe

Recommended Season: Summer in Belize (December to March)

Crew Size: 6

Day 1:
Arrived in Belize International Airport at 11 am. Upon arrival, my friends and I were picked up by Belize Nature Travel owner Luis Godoy. Luis served as our travel guide for the first 3 days of the trip.

After Arriving we were brought to Cheers for lunch. I got beef fajita. It was a little dry and took too long. I asked my coworkers what the local delicacy was, they said rice and beans, and then laughed. Hmmm, I guess they were serious, because the Luis told us that "rice and beans" was in fact a local staple - and so did all the menus in all of Belize. What's interesting about Cheers is the look. Everyone that visits San Ignacio stops here for a meal. It's location is comparable to a truck stop. Very interesting set up, reminds me of the bus stops in the Philippines.

Cheers... Somewhere between Belize City and San Ignacio. Photo by Local Visitor

After lunch we went cave tubing (40USD per person). It was fun and a little scary. We went on a short hike upstream of a river that runs underneath a cave. I can't remember the name of the Cave, but this is where everyone or most of the tour guides take tourists for cave tubing.

Our final stop for the day was dinner at Hode's. A very good meal after a tiring day. Luis drove us around town, took us to the hotel (25USD per person for transport to the hotel) and we then walked to dinner. We had steak and chicken and thank goodness I decided to order the pork chop. I don't know if it's their specialty, but the crew decided it was the best of the lot. I also loved the grilled chicken. So if you ever make it there, do order the pork chop and the chicken. These are both from the grill.

Day 2:
Luis picked us up at around 730 in the morning. Having all our clocks stuck in eastern time, we thought we woke up at 7am and started scrambling. The hotel was alright but they did not have a clock. It was a very quaint, very lovely cabin, but we have a schedule to keep!

We were taken to the border of Belize and Guatemala (18USD per person to cross to Guatemala). A lot of traffic at the border, having a tour guide definitely made things a lot easier. That day's destination was the Tikal Ruins (100USD including some really good coffee and lunch). It was quite a hike. If you're not big on archaeology, the critters in and around the ruins will definitely keep you interested. We saw birds, coatimundis (raccoon family), leaf cutters (crazy cool ants), and several monkeys jumping around the trees. It was quite fantastic.

Miniature Tikal at the lobby of the ruins. Photo by Local Visitor

One of the many protected carvings in the ruins. Photo by Local Visitor

The tour ended with a late lunch at a restaurant by the ruins. There were three choices: vegetarian, plain grilled chicken, grilled chicken with bacon mushroom sauce. Well, you know me and food. My friends and I all had the same thing and drove away very, very satisfied!

Upon return to San Ignacio, Luis took us to return our bags to the hotel and dropped us off at the town. In town we had some yummy, non dairy ice cream, tacos from the streets of San Ignacio, and souvenir shopping. Everyone in town is hustling. I feel bad turning down people trying to sell tours to us. A supposedly ten minute walk to the hotel turned into about an hour. We ran into a play ground and started goofing around with the swings, monkey bars, and busted a two each end on the sea saws.

We ended the day with a game of basketball in the pool, some more food from Hode's (fried chicken, grilled fish, and nachos), and some drinks from the bar. This might be a Filipino preference, but do try the grilled fish with soy sauce and lime, oh heaven!

Day 3:

In a rush, got up at 630am, bought breakfast at the morning market (something that goes on every Saturday in San Ignacio, comparable to a swap meet). For the last time, Luis picked us up (all packed and checked out) and drove us to coffee and to our destination for the day, the ATM Cave Adventure Tour (135USD per person, includes lunch). Actun Tunichil Muknal, home of several sets of pots and sacrificial human remains. It was quite a tour. A few steps here and there, crossed three rivers, went through a few hoops while submerged in water, and climbed the ouch ouch rocks. I must say, I agree with everyone, this is definitely something you shall not miss. Do bring some bread for snacks before entering the cave.

Pots were found in specific arrangements, which pertain to the time and ritual that was being performed. Photo by Don Manuel Dulos

We drove away with a turkey wrap. We were dropped off at the port in Belize City to take a boat to Caye Caulker. After a 45 minute boat ride, we took a golf cart to to our hotel, settled in and got dinner. Dinner was, yes Belize is on a streak, very good. We had lobster, fish and steak at a restaurant in front of the hotel. After dinner, we walked around and found some ice cream for dessert. I did not have ice cream, I had a mudslide instead. Just like Vegas, you can walk on the streets with alcohol in hand. We got some local rum, but ended up calling it a night.

No cars in Caye Caulker, just golf carts. Photo by Don Manuel Dulos

Day 4:

No more Luis, now we are on our own. We got out of the hotel at around 9am. We returned to the ice cream shop for breakfast. Everyone had something from their specials, and every plate looked, smelled and tasted good. At 1015am we headed to our adventure for the day, snorkeling (45USD per person, includes lunch and gear). The tour included three stops: a protected reserve with reefs and an ocean of fish, a shark alley, and an area where we were allowed to explore without much restrictions. Our guide was funny, informative and took good care of us. Half of my group became sea sick and he tried hard to make them feel better.

Upon return to the island, we decided to rent a golf cart (80USD for 24 hours). We took a stroll around town, got some souvenirs, had dinner, saw a town parade, some of my friend got a henna tattoo, grabbed some drinks and ended the night in the hotel.

The "newly tattooed" and the artist. Photo by Local Visitor

Comments:

The local rum was very good.
The tattoo artist was very interesting and very talented, but the henna ink he was using was lacking quality.
The golf cart was a very good idea. It's a small island and walking is always good, but the golf cart was fun.
We checked out a few bars. There were quite a bit of them, and all were less than a quarter full. I am speculating that we were there during the beginning of the season and during peak would be to capacity.

Day 5:

Last day in Belize. It was a slow morning. We had lunch and did some last minute souvenir shopping. In one of our stops was a group of children fishing for crabs. They were relaxing to watch. They had no care in the world and were just having a good morning.

Belize-an children hunting some crabs. Photo by Local Visitor

The trip ended with a boat ride back to Belize City and then to the airport. Over all it was a good trip, not too tiring and not too boring either. Food was good and people were nice. With questions, feel free to comment.

I have a few more trips to publish. Sorry for the delay, but I hope my blog is helpful and a motivation to travel.

I O U

2011-12-06T22:01:00.001-08:00

I have so many stories. So little time and pictures. And information.

I just finished Fall Quarter yesterday, stress level is going down, but still very tired. Looking forward to Beliz next week. I will have details on my post trip entry. Hopefully I get a lot of updating done over the holidays.

I hope everyone's winter isn't too cold.

Yosemite National Park (April & July 2011)

2011-08-09T18:23:00.000-07:00

July 2011 (drove from Los Angeles to Yosemite, then to Merced and back to Los Angeles)

April 2011 (drove from Los Angeles to Yosemite, then Santa Cruz and back to Los Angeles)

Our Mode of Transportation: Car Rental/My Corolla.

Other Options:

-by Plane to Fresno or San Francisco and then rent a car.

-by amtrak or greyhound to Fresno or San Francisco and then rent a car.

Recommended: If you like in CA, a roadtrip would be nice. Else, flying to Fresno may be best.

Recommended Season: Spring

Park Fees:

Day Hike - $25 per week per vehicle.

Annual Unlimited Entrance for National Parks - $80

There simply are no words. I'm not very good at this; it should be obvious by now. So I will leave you kids with recommendations.

Plan a short day hike to Vernal Falls. Prepare to be awed and to get wet. When you reach the top, take a sweet nap by the river. You will forget technology existed. Except maybe your camera.
If you still have some energy left in you, adding Nevada Falls to your trek is not such a bad idea.
Plan a day or two to hike the Half Dome. I didn't make it up on either trips. But, I shall be back. NOTE: Hiking to the Half Dome requires a permit. Plan accordingly.

Like I said, I have no words. But I do have photographs. (TB..added)

Be advised that camping and cottages easily fill up. Planning ahead is absolutely essential.

Off Topic.. and Taking Shots

2011-05-05T01:30:00.000-07:00

With about zero knowledge in photography; I found myself in a beginner's class with a film camera in the beginning of February this year.

Pending the acquisition of a digital SLR, I will be starting a photo blog.

...In other news...

I will be writing again asap. I am currently in a very busy state of student-hood..

Zion National Park (May 2010 & Sept 2008)

2011-01-02T13:46:00.000-08:00

May 2010 (drove from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, then Las Vegas to Zion. Same route on the way back)

September 2008 (day stop in the return leg from a road trip from Los Angeles to the MidWest)

Our Mode of Transportation: My Corolla.

Other Options:

-by Plane to Cadar City or St. George and then rent a car.

-by amtrak or greyhound to St. George and then rent a car.

Recommended: Take a car and include Zion in your road trip.

Recommended Season: Summer

Park Fees:

Day Hike - $25 per week per vehicle.

Annual Unlimited Entrance for National Parks - $80

I have mixed feelings about this park. It really depends on what your mood is like, what you're looking for. For instance, if you've heard of its compelling beauty and you want to see it, by all means go for it. If you are looking for some time alone with nature, I'm afraid to say but it seems the rest of the world has discovered her and a day of solitude may no longer be an option.

From experience, I am going to say that she is perfect for day hikes and experienced rock climbers. I had just discovered (from research) that camping is an option, and more camp grounds are being constructed as we speak.

During both visits, my friends and I drove to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center and took a tram to the Zion Lodge. If you can, bring snacks. The prices of food in the lodge aren't too bad but food in the lodge restaurant is not good for its price. The tram goes around to certain drop off points to different trail heads. During the ride, some history and information about the park is shared by the driver through a PA system. The tone is very pale and generic, but if you pay attention, you will learn many interesting things.

The Riverside Walk and the Emerald Pools are two of the best ones to see. However, they are a little too popular. Probably the only reason I would return here is if I get married and decide to do a tour of all the National Parks in the United States for the honeymoon. :) If you've never been, it's a good place to visit at least once.

Road Trip to Bicol Region Philippines (Dec. 26 to 30, 2008)

2010-12-23T11:18:00.000-08:00

Our Mode of Transportation: Toyota Revo. (SUV)

Other Options: by Bus from the terminals in Cubao or by Plane from NAIA.

Recommended: Fly there and rent a car when you get there.

Season I Went: Winter

Recommended Season: Spring/Post Holidays (not too hot and almost no chance of rain)

My brother and I left Pasig City at around 930pm the night of the 26th. We stopped by a gas station in Minasag, Bicol at around 400am to take a power nap. (MILEAGE: 308km)

We made it to Daet just in time for breakfast. We took a quick detour to Bagasbas Beach and had Lugaw and Chicken Mami for breakfast. How was the food? It was good, just perfect for our empty bellies! Of course I grew up accustomed to the food so excuse my lack of excitement. (MILEAGE: 355km)

Breakfast by the Bagasbas Beach

The next stop was Pili, home of the tasty Pili Nuts. We picked up my friend Fanny and her cousin (Lyra) and nieces (Inna&Ichi) and nephew (Kingloy). (MILEAGE: 485km) Good thing we brought the big car. Haha. The kids were all very cute and funny and ate a lot more than we did. I must say, if you find yourself disappointed at Bicol, they will definitely make up for it! We then drove back north to Naga City to have lunch at Red Platter. It's supposed to be famous, and it was full when we ate there, but I didn't think it had anything special to offer. I don't even remember what I had. The best I can say is, it's not a bad option if your stomach is shouting at you!

The day ended south with a drive to Legaspi City. This time it was only my brother, Fanny, Lyra and I; it was raining. We spent the night in Sampaguita Tourist Inn. Costing less than $20 per night, it's acceptable if you're not picky. The room was clean and they were able to provide fresh towels as you need them. There is a small convenience store in the lobby, but it doesn't stay open very late. This is my case doesn't make it very convenient. (MILEAGE: 485km)

The group got up at 7ooam and headed further south to Donsol. (MILEAGE: 723km) Their main attraction is the sighting of an endangered specie native to that region, the whale shark or butanding. It is a government ran tourist attraction. It costs PhP 1000 for a boat to take you to the middle of the Philippine Sea and swim with the whale shark (that is if you can spot them and catch them); and another PhP 150 if you want to rent a snorkel. It was still raining. We spent about 2 hours at sea, spotted only 2, and each one disappeared within a second. Guys, its all about timing.

After this disappointment, we faced another one in our return to Legazpi City. Next in our list is the visit to Mt. Mayon. It is known for its perfect shaped cone and the Cagsawa Ruins that makes it not just an attraction but a historical land mark. It is unfortunate however that the rain kept us from seeing its full beauty. We only saw the bottom of the volcano. At the end of the day we returned to the hotel and kicked it with a bottle of wine and a game of Pusoy Dos, which I just found out is also called Big Two.

Cagsawa Ruins. Mt. Mayon is behind it, hiding in the clouds.

This brings us to the final day of the trip. We returned to Pili to pick up the kids and then drove to Mt. Isarog. The sun is finally shining, but Mt. Mayon is still hiding. We hiked the dormant volcano, our destination: the Malabsay Falls. It is gorgeous and roaring with power and my pictures do not do it justice. After a few hours in the mountain our hosts brought us to the CWC or CamSur Watersports Complex. After an amazing one-on-one with mother nature, why would you take anyone do something like this? Hmmm. I do appreciate their time, but come on. Nothing can beat a tiring hike topped with a beautiful waterfall. Get it right! ;)

Malabsay Falls atop Mt. Isarog

We ended our trip with Sinigang sa Buko and Crablets for dinner and a short nap and headed back north to the city. The sinigang was sweet, a nice twist from the usually sour soup that I love. And the crablets were crunchy and a little salty, just like the way I like it!

Disclaimer: Prices mentioned are from 2 years ago. The economy may have caused the prices to go down or up.

Blabbering :)

2010-12-23T11:13:00.000-08:00

I'm adapting a format. Why? Make it less wordy and more informative. Yes? Yes!

So what the hell have I been up to? I just got back from Jamaica. I done a boat load of "I've never done that before" type of stuff this year.

I've done quite a bit this year and I should make a list so I can write about all them before the information gets too outdated... But... I am starting my masters in about a week... So... I don't think that's happening.

Happy Holidays Champs!

The Curse

2010-04-14T18:15:00.000-07:00

Julio, possibly the best travel buddy. Always happy and almost never annoyed at me. (I can be quite annoying) My friends always marvel at how amazing we are together, especially in making even Kansas a hell of a lot of fun! However, there is a downside to this awe-inspiring duo... Our trips are cursed with traffic violations..

Roadtrip #1: Weed, CA

About 2 hours past the state line from Oregon, just past the beautiful Shasta National Park, just after an amazing night camping in Warm Springs, OR, in the 97 South, a 10 wheeler takes over the fast lane with its very slow speed, driver (Julio) passes the truck with a decent speed for silver, gets pulled over for speeding. In WEED CALIFORNIA. Offender drove away with a speeding ticket.

Roadtrip #2: TX&UT

From the ClayPlace (i really don't know why we did that) in the city streets of El Paso Texas, just after having an amazing meal in the Rib Hut, driver (Julio) gets pulled over for going straight on a turn only lane. Offender got away with a warning.

About a week later, a few blocks from the majestic Grand Canyon and about 24 hours to seeing the gorgeous Zion National Park, in the 89 North in Kanab, UT, driver (josel) tail gates another 10 wheeler and gets pulled over for speeding. Offender moped away with a speeding ticket.

Roadtrip #3: Philadelphia, PA

Had pizza and beer in Pretty Philly. Drove back to the hotel, parked in the street because I am cheap. QUICK TIP: Hotels in Philly do not have parking lots, but there are parking structures across from them that require an in and out or per 24hr parked payment of $10+. It's 830 am. I get up ready to move the car to a more secure location, because its street cleaning from 9am to 11am. I walk out, its raining, street is clean, car is gone. Somehow, none of us saw the red ass sign that says we'll tow your ass if you're parked here during rush hour. Yeay for parking violation and towing fees! Offender took a cab to take the car from the towing lot. Oh, what fun!

Roadtrip 4: Somewhere between Kingman, AZ and Seligman, AZ

We were just driving. On the way to see the meteor crater just south of Flagstaff, AZ. Julio was sleeping. Driver was driving while listening to Adam Carolla. Driver has sore throat. On the 40 east. Spit phlegm out the window, we're good, I can do this. One more time. Spit phlegm out the window, hmmm, i wonder if it stays out or goes back into the car and how it reacts to the wind and the car's speed and its density and whatnot and the next thing I know we are body bumping with the bushes in the median. We come out alive. Offender is scared. Silver had to stay for 2 weeks to get a face lift.

Will I go to another road trip with my buddy? Yes, definitely! I am not superstitious, even if I call it the curse, every single violation is worth all the fun of traveling and of having Julio as my companion.

Lost in Joshua Tree with Scott (Dec 12, 2009)

2010-03-30T12:03:00.001-07:00

The idea was to go on a hike, who knew he was gonna cross out a destination on my checklist.

Got up at 7am, loaded Sophia with some Justin Timberlake, stopped for half a dozen of doughnuts for breakfast, and headed south to Costa Mesa to meet up with the Scott. Left the OC at around 830am, doughnuts and coffee in hand. This is gonna be a wonderful day!

After about 3 hours of driving in the rain, hello Joshua Tree! You seem well and dry :( hopes of playing with mud in the desert dead in an instant. The wonderful thing about nature, there are never repeat experiences despite the repeat locations.

It's so easy to get lost. Bring a friend (preferably someone you can stand for many, many hours in case you get lost or a flash light), bring a map (even if it's gonna rain, MORE SO IF ITS GONNA RAIN!), bring food (nothing that will attract the coyotes please!).

Creatures of the desert. Pile of poop or lovers turned into stone?

Giant Palm Trees, beware!!!

How amazing was it?? Let's just say he's been there enough times to possibly have a good idea of the trails and such, but we still got lost. Hah. The 4 hour hike turned into an 8 hour one and we ended up with quite the exercise. On that note, the giant palm tree trail is a dead end..

Story:

With so much trust and confidence that the Scott knows what's going on, I walk into the wilderness with him without asking questions. The moment we realize that we were lost, all confidence is lost as well. Here's roughly how it went:

J: You hike a lot, don't you have a GPS?

S: Yeah, but I left it at home.

J: Why?

S: I thought it was gonna rain, I didn't want it to get wet.

J: What?

S: Sorry

J: Hmmm, how bout a map?

S: I left it at home, too.

J: Because you didn't want it to get wet?

S: (smiles in embarrassment) Yeah.

J: Don't they have any in the ranger station? Why didn't we get some, it'll prolly be cheap.

S: It's free.

My legs were sore all week from the walking.

Hiiiii..

2010-03-22T23:33:00.000-07:00

So I'm back. I haven't been anywhere new since June in New York. But I will start writing again. And as promised it will be filled with as many addresses, phone numbers, and websites of all the awesomeness this planet has to offer.

I also may move, to Seattle. And I have my EIT. Yes I am some sort of geek. And I am still looking to kick off my career. But I do have a job that keeps me kicking.

xoxo

Tour Guides <--- bit of a rant...

2009-06-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

I highly suggest not getting a tour guide, especially in when visiting cities. Exceptions would include a trip to the amazon and the like, or to a country that speaks a language which you or any of your companions do not speak. However conversational pocket size books on languages are always available in bookstores.

And how do I suggest you get around? There are many blogs like mine that talk about where to go and what to do. In addition to this, many of the cities and states have tourist information on their websites. Yes, the internet is such a wonderful thing! And in the event that you find spots that were not in your resources while you are there, well, you have just made your adventure super!

So what's wrong with tour guides? Nothing really. Except when they are family, they tend to take you to places they enjoy with the assumption that you will enjoy it too. That's about it.

End of Rant. :):(:):(

I Love You Man, Los Angeles, CA

2009-05-23T09:49:00.000-07:00

Hands down "I Love You Man" is probably the funiest movie I've ever seen. Not only will it have you laughing every single second, it also is very nostalgic for me because of the very real Los Angeles scenery it presents. It gives you a very good preview of what I call uptown Los Angeles, Hollywood and the magnificent Venice Beach.

My first few years in the United States was spent going to school in LA. Orange County has not been bad, but by far not one city in that I have been to is better. My top cities are Seattle and Tucson, still nothing beat LA!

I'm writing this for those who are wondering what raw and real Los Angeles looks like. Just off the top of my head, a few other good movies to check out are Training Day and Crank.

I hope these movies would make you wanna visit. But one at a time please, tourist can be annoying ;)

local_visitor <---- annoying!

Seattle, WA (March 26 to 29, 2009)

2009-04-30T19:50:00.000-07:00

It was the long and well awaited spring break. Possibly my last one before I start my "real" life. My mom and I flew out from LAX at 3pm, arrived in SEA at 730pm. Plane rides are getting expensive. (What a predictable thing to say...)

The first night wasn't very exciting, seeing as how I went with my mom and decided to stay at my cousin's house. Downtown Seattle, however, made up for all the boring that my mother was trying to be. Heh.

I drove down with the intention of seeing Black Mountain at Neumos, but decided against it as I sat in a little tavern just across the street, Comet Tavern. Found my way to the place thinking, this is just like downtown LA, except it feels a lot less scary! Picture time!

Pike Street at Downtown Seattle, where a lot if not most of all the fun happens! Haha.

Mico de Noche.

Who's Playing? For how much? ;)

Comet Tavern Ceiling..

Fast Paced Action Packed

Pike's Public Market.

This is my second visit to Seattle. The next two days were tourist time for my mom. We went to the Space Needle. Beautiful Structure, nothing too crazy. Sunday morning was a drive north off the I5 to Snoqualmie Falls. I love waterfalls, so I was happy.

Fly back was alright. Flight was delayed, but not too bad, unlike the delay from Kauai. That is a story for another day.

What's Coming... Broken External :(

2009-04-28T12:24:00.000-07:00

After Toronto, I went to San Francisco with my brother and my cousin. Then I went on a roadtrip with a dear friend.

I was about to write about my next trip when I discovered my broken external hard drive. Lucky I have geek friends who can retrieve my data for me. This leads to a decision: I will stop writing my recalls in order. I shall write as I stumble upon pictures. Enjoy!

Canada: Toronto, ON (July to August 2005)

2009-03-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

Before I got a chance to get to know LA, I flew to Toronto to hang out with one of my closest friends, Raizza. She had just moved to Canada, so I decided to crash her new abode.

Our first destination was Center Island. From downtown Toronto, take a ferry to get to this funfilled island. Your activity options include: Biking around the island, swimming in one of their beaches, taking rides in the small amusement park, and having a good meal over their green, green grass, which you are encouraged to step on!

Next stop is now the second tallest freestanding structure in the world, Canada's National Tower.

I'm afraid of heights, but the terrific view was very much worth it.

Of course you can't go to Ontario without seeing the Niagara Falls. It was easily the most beautiful sight in the trip.

Here's a shot from the Maid of the Mist, a ferry ride that gets you up close and personal with the strong and beautiful horse shoe falls.

Other than the Maid of the Mist, there are tunnels that take you behind the falls where you can feel its wrath or its serenade if you please. And if you're not the nature type, there's what they call the tacky town. A little Vegas by the beautiful waterfalls.

On the way down are layers of vineyards. Just google for Niagara Tours. Each feature different stops in the town of Niagara and several vineyards.

We were young and car-less. So I'll be sure to return someday and tell you more about it.

50 before 25

2009-03-18T05:34:00.000-07:00

I'm not really sure why. But I have set a goal for myself: Visit all 50 US states before turning 25. I have less than a year and a half to go and 37 to go. This is what I have left on my list:

Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Wish me luck! :D

Boracay, Philippines (October to November 2001)

2009-03-18T03:39:00.000-07:00

Before I got hold of a my very own camera, there was a place called Boracay.

It was one of the most talked about destinations in the Philippines. Everybody fuzzed over the white sand beaches, the island's natural beauty, the good food, and the very welcoming locals. After years of dreaming about it, I finally got to go. It was our semestral break for my final year in HS, and it was a break to look forward to.

We arrived in Katiklan at around noon, nothing too special. A small airport, very country-like, simple and nothing extra-ordinary. We took a 30-minute jeepney ride to the pier, and hopped onto a 2-hour boat ride to our final destination.

We stayed at the Red Coconut Beach Hotel. It has a very soothing nature-look in it. At that time I wondered why my mom had not picked a fancy hotel. Now that I think about it, it was a very good choice, because it matched the beauty of the island.

We went snorkling and had fresh coconut right after. This reminds me of the smile in my grandmother's face as she ate her coconut. I took a banana boat ride with my brother and my cousins. Oh what fun to have salt water splashing into your eyes! We also went island hopping. One of our stops was the Puka Beach. Aside from sand, the ground was covered with puka shells. In the island were several ladies making necklaces from the shells. We were also served lunch as a part of the trip. Grilled Fish always makes my water experience complete.

At the end of each night my brother and I found ourselves either in the hotel pool or in the middle of a party. Probably our most worthy find for an after sunset activity was a reggae bar, BomBom. One of its best features was the wooden lounge between it and the ocean. I sat in the swing and relaxed as my brother introduced me to rum and coke, and reggae.

Another good find is desert, crepe. France has found its way east, and the beach is the place to be! Unfortunately, I can not remember the name of the place. And after a tedious search, I will conclude that there is now more than one crepe place in the island. I will leave you this, it is located a few feet north of the Red Coconut, along the beach. It's a quaint crepe bar, good crepe and very chill.

We always considered Boracay our Hawaii. If you like a good, fun Filipino crowd as you get away from it all, Boracay is the place of choice.

note: I would like to apologize for the lack of details and pictures. This is a recall from eight years ago, and back then I did not have a camera. I hope you find this and my future blogs helpful in choosing your next destination.